MINISTER of Information and Media Chushi Kasanda says government will move with speed to ensure the enactment of the Access to Information Bill.

And Kasanda says the UPND-led government will promote the free flow of information at ZNBC so that whoever is not covered by the private media will find space on the public broadcaster.

In a statement, Wednesday, Kasanda said President Hakainde Hichilema had tasked her ministry to facilitate the enactment and implementation of the Access to Information legislation.

“There has been a slight adjustment in the portfolio functions. Cinematography Policy and Theatre Policy have been transferred to other line ministries. This Ministry will focus on three core functions, namely broadcasting and television services, information and media policy and information services. Access to Information held by public authorities is key to promoting transparency, good governance and the full participation if citizens in the democratic process. The President through the public pronouncements and through the UPND manifesto has tasked the ministry to facilitate enactment and implementation of Access to Information legislation,” she said.

“This must be in line with international standards, taking into account the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Principles which were endorsed by Commonwealth Law Ministers and noted by Heads of Government in Durban 1999. As this meeting progresses, I will be getting an update from the Permanent Secretary and the team so that we make resolutions on the next steps. We will not be looking at why previous governments did not enact the legislation. The President has directed that Access to Information legislation must be enacted. We have to move in that direction and we will move with speed.”

And Kasanda said the media needed to establish credible complaint systems to provide members of the public with effective redress for unprofessional behavior conduct.

“We in the UPND government believe that media organizations and journalists should set and supervise their professional standards and code of justice. Journalistic ethics require that the media should report accurately and fairly, issue corrections whenever they get the facts wrong, allow a fair opportunity to reply when appropriate and subject to legitimate public interest, respect the right to privacy, particularly of minors. We also want media owners to recognize that ownership entails a commitment to inform citizens about matters of public interest and not merely to advance partisan or personal interests,” she said.

“It is part of the media’s responsibility to ensure that journalists are adequately trained and that their private interests do not distort their reporting of public issues. It is our considered view that media and journalists’ organizations should establish credible complaints systems to adjudicate on alleged breaches of professional codes of practice and to provide members of the public with effective redress for unprofessional behavior conduct. In view of the foregoing, I will be getting an update from the Permanent Secretary and his team on how far the process of establishing a media self regulation mechanism has gone. We need to conclude this process as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, Kasanda said the UPND-led government would promote the free flow of information at ZNBC so that whoever was not covered by the private media would find space on the public broadcaster.

“The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) is a creation of Parliament through an Act of Parliament that is, ZNBC Act, Chapter 154 of the laws of Zambia. It is a media platform for all Zambians to exercise their freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy and underpins good governance, public accountability and respect for all human rights. Every Zambian has the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds through any media and regardless of frontiers,” said Kasanda.

“The UPND-led government respects the right or freedom of expression and will promote the free flow of information and ideas by allowing ZNBC to operate as a public broadcaster so that whoever is not covered by the private media will find space on the ZNBC platform. We will enhance legislation so that ZNBC and other public media outlets serve as common platforms for all Zambians to exercise their freedom of expression. We have a lot of work to so as government. People’s expectations of this government are very high and the President has said that we should exceed the people’s expectations. We will be addressing a lot of issues in the information and media sector.”